WASHINGTON, DC - The House Energy and Commerce Committee today announced its hearing and vote schedule for the week of July 14. The committee will investigate the anthrax lab incident and the CDC’s adherence to safety protocol measures. The committee will also vote on a series of bipartisan public health and job creating bills and examine innovative technology for 21st Century Cures.
On Monday, July 14, the Energy and Commerce Committee will convene for opening statements in preparation for a vote on the following bills:
* H.R. 594, the Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research, and Education Amendments, authored by Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) and Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY). H.R. 594 would update surveillance, research, and education activities to reflect scientific developments and continue the support of research and patient support initiatives across all forms of Muscular Dystrophy.
* H.R. 669, the Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act, introduced by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Rep. Peter King (R-NY). This bill provides for activities to help improve the understanding of stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death, and sudden unexplained death in children.
* H.R. 4290, the Wakefield Act, introduced by Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT) and Rep. Peter King (R-NY). The Wakefield Act would reauthorize grant programs that support the expansion, improvement, and evaluation of emergency medical services for children.
* H.R. 4771, the Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act, introduced by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) and Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ). This bill would classify certain anabolic steroids, substances often found in bodybuilding products and marketed as dietary supplements, as controlled substances. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced a version of this bill in the Senate in February 2014.
* H.R. 4250, the Sunscreen Innovation Act, introduced by Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and Rep. John Dingell (D-MI). This bill would streamline the FDA’s approval process for new sunscreen ingredients while maintaining strict safety standards. The FDA has not approved a new sunscreen ingredient in nearly two decades. This legislation would require that pending and new applications be completed in a more predictable and transparent manner.
* H.R. 4450, the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014, authored by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT). This bill would reauthorize funding for Brand USA and increase accountability and transparency of the program. The bill would allow Brand USA to continue to promote U.S. tourism and economic growth without any cost to U.S. taxpayers.
* H.R. 5057, the EPS Service Parts Act of 2014, introduced by Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY). This legislation exempts certain external power supply (EPS) service and spare parts from DOE efficiency standards. DOE maintains the authority to include limited reporting requirements and modifications to prevent potential misuse of the exemption.
The committee will reconvene on Tuesday, July 15, to vote on the legislation. Electronic copies of the bills and a background memo can be found on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s website here. Amendments and votes will be available at the same link as they are posted.
On Wednesday, July 16, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will examine the anthrax lab incident at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As part of the ongoing investigation into the potential live anthrax exposure of more than 80 workers at a CDC lab in Atlanta, committee leaders earlier this week sent letters to the CDC and HHS Inspector General seeking documents and information. Dr. Tom Frieden, Director of the CDC, will be among the witnesses testifying.
Also on Wednesday, the Subcommittee on Health will review the reports HHS OIG recently released regarding the “inconsistencies" in Obamacare applications within the federally facilitated marketplace. The reports found that through February 2014, there were 2.9 million inconsistencies, 2.6 million of which had yet to be addressed.
On Thursday, the Subcommittees on Communications and Technology and Health will hold a joint hearing to explore how advances in communications and technology can transform 21st Century Cures. “Learning how we can update our laws to foster new technologies and harness the power of these innovations to accelerate and strengthen the discovery, development, and delivery cycle of new cures and treatments is exactly what our #CommActUpdate and 21st Century Cures initiatives are all about," said Chairman Upton. Members will hear from experts in both the health and technology fields regarding areas where the health care industry can take advantage of advances in technology to accelerate the #Path2Cures.
Hearing and Vote Details:
Monday, July 14, 2014
4 PM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Full Committee Markup of H.R. 4771, H.R. 4250, H.R. 594, H.R. 669, H.R. 4290, H.R. 4450, H.R. 5057 (opening statements only)
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
10 AM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Reconvene Full Committee Markup of H.R. 4771, H.R. 4250, H.R. 594, H.R. 669, H.R. 4290, H.R. 4450, H.R. 5057
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
10 AM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Hearing on “Review of CDC Anthrax Lab Incident"
10:15 AM
2322 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittee on Health
Hearing on “Failure to Verify: Concerns Regarding PPACA’s Eligibility System"
Thursday, July 17, 2014
9:30 AM
2123 Rayburn HOB
Subcommittees on Communications and Technology and Health
Hearing on “21st Century Technology for 21st Century Cures"
